Max Verstappen has firmly rejected any criticism of his driving following his fourth Formula One world title win in Las Vegas last weekend. Speaking ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, the final race before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver was adamant that he would not alter his aggressive approach, which has drawn both penalties and criticism. “On the track, I will give it my all,” he stated. “I’m not backing down. My goal is to win, and that’s what matters. Some people criticize me for this, but most of them lack a championship-winning mindset, so they can’t comprehend this approach.”
Verstappen secured the title despite not having the fastest car for the latter part of the season. Under immense pressure, he was aggressive in both attack and defense, a style that was questioned by other drivers, including his title rival Lando Norris. Former world champion Damon Hill and ex-driver Martin Brundle also criticized Verstappen, with Brundle suggesting it had “tarnished” his legacy.
Verstappen has previously dismissed these criticisms as British bias, a view he reiterated in Qatar. “The issue in F1 is that 80 to 85% of the media is British, and I felt some of the coverage about me was unfair,” he said. “Ultimately, I have four titles, and I’m the one speaking out. I don’t care. If I disagree with something, I’ll say it.”
Verstappen also reaffirmed his commitment to stay with Red Bull, a decision he made immediately after winning the title in Las Vegas. He has won all four championships with Red Bull, with whom he is contracted until 2028, and he sees no need to prove himself by winning with another team. “I don’t feel the need to win the world championship with another team,” he explained. “It would be wonderful to stay with one team and race there forever. I hope that can be with Red Bull. That’s the goal. I’m not concerned about my legacy; I value my success based on my own achievements, not what others say.”
While Verstappen has secured the drivers’ world championship, the constructors’ title, which is crucial for the teams and determines the prize money, is still up for grabs in the final two rounds. McLaren, who haven’t won the title since 1998, lead Ferrari by 24 points. To clinch the title, they need to outscore Ferrari by 21 points in Qatar and ensure they are 45 points ahead before the final round in Abu Dhabi.
With 103 points available in the final two rounds, McLaren has a chance to secure the title in Qatar, especially since they were quick at the track last season while Ferrari struggled. However, in the first practice session, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets ahead of Norris and Piastri, with Carlos Sainz in fourth.
In qualifying for the sprint race, McLaren dominated, with Norris securing pole position ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Piastri in third. “To bounce back from Vegas is great,” said Norris. “We aimed for pole, and we achieved it today. Our goal is a one-two finish to maximize points for the constructors.” Ferrari’s Sainz and Leclerc could only manage fourth and fifth, while Verstappen was sixth and Lewis Hamilton seventh. The sprint race will take place at 2pm on Saturday, followed by qualifying for the GP at 6pm.
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